Are Online Therapists Real Therapists?

When we log onto the internet and talk to someone on the other side, there is never a guarantee that we know for sure who we are talking to. Without face-to-face contact, it is customary to be wary about online relationships, whether personal or business.

What about online therapists? Are they legit? How do we know the person we are talking to is a licensed professional? How do we know that we are talking to a person at all and not some bot that has been programmed with a few responses?

Those are all very valid questions, and you want to be careful who you trust with your personal information. This article will help to alleviate some of your fears and give you some markers to look for to ensure that the online therapist you choose is a real one.

Are Online Therapists Real Therapists?

If you use a quality online therapy platform such as Better Help or Talk Space, you will be talking to actual therapists in real-time. To work for one of these online platforms, the therapists must be licensed with the proper credentials. For the most part, online therapy platforms are simply ways for the therapist to reach a more extensive client base. These professionals are either independent contractors or are employed by the site.

So the easy answer to this question is yes. Online therapists are actual therapists. However, you should be careful about which platform you choose. That is why you should do your research carefully, or better yet, check out our expert guides on the best online therapy platforms available today.

Why Should I See an Online Psychologist?

An online psychologist or therapist does the same thing as a therapist or psychologist who works in person. Regardless of the issue you may be working through, the online psychologist can help you reflect on your thoughts and make connections to your daily life.

It doesn’t matter if you’re seeing a psychologist for the first time or have gone to therapy in the past, you can see an online psychologist for nearly every reason.

Additionally, if you are looking for a convenient way to get therapy, online sessions may be for you. Because you don’t have to spend a lot of time driving to an actual clinic to get therapy, online therapy may be the best choice if you need to find a way to save time and energy but still want to take care of your mental health.

You should consider therapy if you live with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health disorders. You may also want to seek help from an online psychologist if you’re going through a significant life change such as divorce or a death in the family. Online therapists can also help manage your time, dealing with conflicts at work, or any other day-to-day problems that are causing you stress.

Credentials of Online Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Therapists

The credentials of an online therapist would be the same as a traditional therapist.
Many online therapists have more than one degree. They may hold a Master’s in psychology but be trained in other specializations like substance abuse or family counseling. If you are looking for a specific type of therapist, make sure that they are licensed in that area or have experience working with that category.

Some of the most common types of therapy currently available online, according to the National Institute of Health, include:

• Couples therapy and marriage counseling
• Cognitive therapy
• Play therapy
• Sex therapy
• Family therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Psychoanalytic therapy

Most of the online therapists will place their credentials on their bio page. While many will hold at least a Master’s degree, you should be wary of any mental health professionals who hold only a bachelor’s. This is because Master’s level psychologists and therapists must undergo a certain number of supervised hours and pass an exam to receive their licensure.

How to Find a Qualified Professional Online Therapist

Maybe finding the credentials of an online therapist isn’t as easy as seeing their plaque on the wall. However, making sure that you find a licensed and qualified professional is critical to your treatment. It doesn’t have to be difficult to figure out if a professional is licensed because the online platforms that deliver online therapy require that individuals be authorized to work for them.

When you’re looking for a qualified online therapist, you will want to find at least one of the following licensures:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor of Mental Health (LPCC)
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC)
• Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP)

Now that you know what to look for, how can you be sure you choose a professional therapist online? There are a few ways you can make sure not to give your money or divulge your personal information to someone less than trustworthy.

The first thing you need to do is make sure that you found their site through a good source. You shouldn’t always trust an ad or listing in Google. Do some research before you give any kind of information or payment. If you find a mental health professional on one of the trusted platforms such as Better Help or Talk Space, you can look directly on their bio page to see what they are qualified to treat.

Additionally, you can check out their reviews and their areas of expertise to see if they may be a good match. Because not all types of treatment are suitable for everyone, this is an important step.

Next, you want to see if the online website that that therapist uses is secure. When you arrive at the website, look at the address bar at the top of your screen. Is there a picture of a lock before the website address? This means that the website is secure.
You want to make sure that the website is secure because your therapy session should be confidential. This means that everything you talk to your therapist about should remain secure between just the two of you unless you disclose that you plan to hurt yourself or another person.

You can also easily take a look at the quality of the website itself. Is the content poorly written? Are there grammar mistakes or choppy English? What type of information is on the site? Is it generic or spammy? All of these questions will help you decide if the website you have chosen is a quality one to use for therapy. Luckily, all of the online therapy platforms that we have reviewed on this site provide quality service that is secure and highly rated.

Another vital thing to look for is contact information. If the therapist is a real, qualified online psychologist, they will list things like their phone number and address. If you can’t find this information on their website, it’s probably not a good idea to trust them.

Is Online Therapy as Effective as In-Person?

Telehealth has quickly become one of the most popular forms of therapy. It is likely one of the most convenient and effective services out there because many more people will access the service. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to take time out of your busy day to talk to a counselor at their clinic. Teletherapy, or online therapy, has become exceedingly popular because you can do it from the comfort of your home or office.

But is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy? Studies are finding that, yes, online treatment is as effective as in-person. This is particularly true if you do video sessions or even audio-only sessions. During your session, expect the therapist to ask guiding questions and help you evaluate the issues you’re currently facing. They will often help you reflect on your decisions to see if you could have done something better and help you find coping mechanisms that will work in the future.

Further, it can be therapeutic to simply get all of your thoughts out on the table and talk to someone who is actively listening. Because therapists are trained to actively listen to what you have to say and help you sort through your thoughts, it can be beneficial to talk to someone over the phone or video chat.

Online therapy can help treat various mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias, and more. Regardless of the potential issues you are dealing with in your daily life, using an online therapy platform may be an effective way to help you take control of your life.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know all about what to look for in an online therapist to make sure that they are, in fact, a qualified professional, it’s time to find an online therapist that meets your needs. Luckily, our experts have reviewed the best online therapy platforms with the most qualified and licensed professionals. Instead of spending time trying to find a qualified professional, rest easy knowing that you can use one of these platforms to find a quality therapist.

*THE ABOVE IS NOT, AND SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED AS, A PROFESSIONAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE